Maffet Ledger: Drawing

Art Historical Context

This captivating drawing from the *Maffet Ledger*, created by an unknown Southern and Northern Cheyenne artist around 1874–81, exemplifies the vibrant tradition of Plains Indian ledger art. Produced during a turbulent era following the U.S. government's confinement of Cheyenne people to reservations after conflicts like the Battle of the Little Bighorn, these works served as visual narratives preserving cultural memory. Rendered on repurposed accounting ledger paper—a readily available material in forts and agencies—the artwork features dynamic depictions of men and horses, symbols of Cheyenne warrior prowess, mobility, and spiritual connection to the Plains. The mixed media of graphite, watercolor, and crayon lend a bold, expressive quality: precise pencil lines outline forms, while vivid colors animate figures against the page. Ledger drawings like this one, classified as paper drawings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, transformed everyday paper into a canvas for storytelling, bypassing traditional hide painting amid declining buffalo populations. At just 11¾ × 5¼ inches, its intimate scale invites close viewing, revealing the artist's skill in capturing motion and identity. Acquired through the Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection in 1968, this piece highlights the resilience of Cheyenne artistry, offering visitors a window into Indigenous perspectives on history and heroism.